This is a topic I’ve been meaning to write about for some time but have never got around to it: Beijing’s craft beer scene. It seems odd that China would be home to a craft beer scene in general but thanks to a few industrious foreigners (with the help of their Chinese counterparts), I can say that Beijing plays host to some pretty good microbrews. You don’t have to choke back another Tsingdao or Yanjing if you don’t want to as these places offer a wide range of ales, lagers and the like (complete with Western prices).
These are the ones that I know about but there may be a few more and, if the current trend is still on pace, there will be more to come in the near future. To be sure, IPAs are the popular brews at the moment, but there are also ciders, ales, lagers, stouts, seasonals and various other experimental beers.
What follows is my humble opinion on the different breweries currently available in Beijing. Sadly, this was all done on my dime and I didn’t receive any remuneration for any of this coverage. For more on this scene, see imbeer.com for an updated list and how to get to these various places.
Great Leap Brewing
Slowboat
Jing-A
Arrow Factory
Panda Brewery
Okhotsk
Lark
NBeer
Which one is best? I’ve found I prefer the IPAs pretty much across the board but if I had to recommend which place to go first, I’d say Great Leap Brewing as they are sort of the face of the up and coming Beijing craft beer scene. They have three locations and offer some 20 beers or so at each location. The brewpubs in Dongzhimen and Sanyuanqiao have food on offer at the taprooms themselves while the original location, GLB #6 in Shichahai, you have to order from the nearby restaurants (they deliver for free).
- #45 Xinyuan St, Chaoyang District
- #6 Doujiao Hutong, Dongcheng District (this one is tucked away behind the Hotel 88, also near Shichahai subway station)
- B12 Xinzhong St, Dongcheng District (near Dongzhimen subway station)
Next would be Slowboat, which is sort of the saving grace of Beijing’s craft beers because it relies heavily on selling its kegs and bottled beers around town (notably at The Bookworm in Salintun) instead of in one brewpub. They do have one brewpub at the moment near Zhangzizhounglu subway station (about a 10 minute walk). The menu is short but to the point: burgers and appetizers. I liked the Anxiety Burger, made with blue cheese.
- 56 Dongsi Batiao, Dongcheng District, Beijing
地址：北京市东城区东城区东四八条56号 (near Zhangzizhonglu subway station on Line 5)
Next, Jing-A as it has a decent selection and is available at 4Corners bar in Shichahai (not far from Great Leap #6). The food portions are disappointingly small and overpriced for what you get. Moreover, since the location is near all the embassies, you get lots of tourists and a lot of the Beijing business-types, some of whom started out as English teachers some years ago and now have “moved up” to the world of big business in Beijing. It can make conversations kinda quick and boring. Good food though.
- 1949 The Hidden City, Courtyard 4, Gongti Bei Lu, Chaoyang district, 朝阳区工体北路4号院 (not far from the Bookworm)
Arrow Factory has existed in some shape or form for a while with their original store called Stuff’d in the Wudaoying hutong between the Andingmen and Yonghegong subway stations. In terms of a nice little pub that you can get away from the noise, this is it as I often go there to do my grading. Excellent hand-made sausages and meat pies make this probably the best place to go for dinner.
- Taproom is next to Stuff’d at No. 9 Jian Chang Hutong / 箭厂胡同9号“塞”餐厅院内
- Vineyard cafe, which is closer to Yonghegong Lama Temple
A few other mentions:
Panda Brewery has two locations, one in Wudaoying hutong (near Arrow Factory) and another in Beixinqiao, just near the subway station. Alright beer, though they seemed kinda watered down when I visited.
- Beixinqiao Toutiao (20m east off Yonghegong Dajie), Dongcheng District, Beijing
地址：北京市东城区北新桥头条 （雍和宫大街往东走20米）
And finally there is a German-style brewery, Okhotsk, near Sanyuanqiao subway station. This place served up decent food and traditional-style German beers, most of which I’d describe as “light”.
- 7 Shangye Jie, Phoenix City, 5 Shuguang Xili, Chaoyang District, Beijing
地址：北京市朝阳区曙光西里甲5号凤凰城凤凰新天商业街7号
Lark, a small operation that boasts a few beers on tap. Although they offer food, you certainly get something unexpected. Spiced chicken wedges are really what most people would call chicken McNuggets.
- 277 Dongzhimen Ave, Dongcheng District. Subway line 5, make a sharp right outside of Exit B.
NBeer Pub. Have yet to be here but it seems to have a decent reputation. Offers a lot of imported beers but also local-brewed beers too. Apparently you can make your own, which might be something to do on a date, maybe?
- 1st Floor, Huguo Xintiandi, 85 Huhuosi Dajie, just off Xinjiekou Dajie Xicheng district, near Ping’An Li subway station.